The Estoril Open began as an ATP event in 1990, and became a combined men’s and women’s tournament in 1998 – making it one of only three European spring clay court stops (also Roland Garros, Rome) to feature both tours playing side-by-side. Four ATP World Tour Champions have titled in Estoril: Thomas Muster, Carlos Moya, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Roger Federer.

Among those who have graced the red clay at Estádio Nacional are Grand Slam champs Victoria Azarenka, Justine Henin, Petra Kvitova, Iva Majoli, Li Na and Francesca Schiavone. The only player with multiple Estoril Open titles is Magui Serna, who was victorious in 2002 and 2003. In 2006, the event showcased the first all-Chinese final in WTA history, between Li and Zheng Jie.

An exclusive resort beach town known to attract the rich and famous, Estoril lies less than 20 miles west of Portugal's capital, Lisbon. It is widely known for its large casino, which was the inspiration for the first of Ian Fleming's James Bond books, "Casino Royale".

Del Potro Back For Title DefenceWorld No. 10 Juan Martin del Potro triumphed on his second visit to Estoril last year, defeating Fernando Verdasco in the final. The Argentine is set to play his ATP World Tour clay-court tournament of the season and is chasing his second title of 2012 after victory at the Open 13 in Marseille.

Gasquet Returns - World No. 18 Richard Gasquet returns to Estoril for the first time since 2007, when he finished runner-up to Novak Djokovic in the final. The Frenchman is chasing his first title in nearly two years.

Wawrinka Makes Debut - World No. 22 Stanislas Wawrinka bids for his first ATP World Tour title in more than a year as he makes his debut in Estoril. The Swiss has already reached two clay-court semi-finals this season.

Home Favourite - Portuguese No. 1 Frederico Gil is set to make his seventh appearance in Estoril. The Lisbon native reached the final in 2010, finishing runner-up to Albert Montanes, and has a 10-6 event record.

Medina Garrigues Bids To Retain Title; Vinci, Kirilenko, Cetkovska In 2012 Field Anabel Medina Garrigues will look to retain her Estoril Open title and lift her 12th career trophy.

The 28-year-old Spaniard has won 10 clay-court titles, the most among active players (the next best is Venus Williams with nine). Last year, she became the first Spaniard to win the Estoril Open title since 2003, when Magui Serna successfully defended her crown.

Medina Garrigues will face Italian Robert Vinci, Russian Maria Kirilenko and Petra Cetkovska of the Czech Republic at the WTA International tournament, which boasts $220,000 in prize money.

Vinci's best result this year came at Acapulco, when the 28 year old lost in the semi-finals to Sara Errani, while Kirilenko has reached the Pattaya City final (l. to Hantuchova).

There are two other former titlists in the women's field, including China's Jie Zheng (2006) and Kirilenko (2008). Russian Ekaterina Makarova finished runner-up in 2009.

Estoril Open Tournament Director Joao Lagos said, "For all the fans we dedicate our efforts in decreasing the tickets prices for this edition, in a way that everyone will feel pleased to visit the Estoril Open and enjoy with us the best tennis atmosphere ever in Portugal."

The Estoril Open is an ATP and WTA clay court tournament held in Jamor, Oeiras, Portugal (in spite of nominally located in Estoril). The men's tournament was created in 1990 and since its inception, every champion except 2004 champion Juan Ignacio Chela and 2009–2010 champion Albert Montañés has been in the Top 10 of the ATP rankings, including former World No. 1 players Thomas Muster (1995 and 1996), Carlos Moyà (2000), Juan Carlos Ferrero (2001), Novak Djokovic (2007) and Roger Federer (2008). Also, Marat Safin lost the 2004 final and Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Gustavo Kuerten won the doubles tournament in 1995 and 1997, respectively. The women's tournament, created in 1998, started as an ITF tournament, but in the next year became a WTA tournament. The women's tournament is currently an International Series tournament. No former World No. 1 has ever won the women's tournament but Victoria Azarenka was runner-up in 2007.

Statistically, this tournament highlights the dominance of Argentine and Spanish male players on red clay. Between 1990 and 2001, at least one Spaniard appeared in the final ten times, with a player from Spain claiming the title in nine of those twelve years. The Spanish dominance waned in recent years. Since 2001, there were only two Spaniards in three finals and only two victories. Between 2002 and 2006, an Argentine made the final at Estoril, winning four of these five titles.

The roll of champions on the women's side is more diverse. Ten of the twelve different champions have represented a nation that had not previously won it. It is also a popular spot for players to win their first title; since it became a WTA event, seven players have used it to win their maiden title. In 2006, it showcased the first all-Chinese final in tour history, between Zheng Jie and Li Na.

Only one Portuguese player has reached the final in either the men's or the women's event: Frederico Gil, the losing men's finalist in 2010.

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